Latin with Foster

Lesson 13: Verb in the Dictionary

Learning the 4 Principal parts of Verbs

In your dictionary, most verbs list 4 principal parts. All 4 are needed to construct the whole verb (all 6 times).

Instructions: spend no more than 2-3 minutes memorizing what each part of the verb means. Don't worry about any of the technical grammar stuff. Then do Homework 8.

4 Principal Parts - Technical Grammar
T.1 (present)	Infinitive Gerund	T.4 (past)	Participle

Real Examples
video	videre	vidi	visus,a,um
I see, I am seeing, I do see	to see seeing	I have seen, I have been seeing I did see, I saw	having been seen

tango	tangere	tetigi	tactus, a, um
I touch, I do touch, I am touching	to touch touching	I have touched, I have been touching I did touch, I touched	having been touched

cano	canere	cecini	cantus,a, um
I sing, I am singing, I do sing	to sing singing	I have sung, I have been singing I did sing, I sang	having been sung

N.B.

The second part, often called the infinitive, often may translate better as the gerund: "videre equum" = "to see the horse" or "seeing the horse" - your choice.
The fourth part may be listed in your dictionary only as "visum", not "visus,a,um". Even though the editors wanted to save paper and not give all three parts, you will be smart enough to know what the dictionary really means. Notice how this part can function as a block 1 adjective.
What if they don't list all 4 parts in my dictionary?
1. Some verbs don't have all the parts. Two examples with no 4th part:
timeo, timere, timui - to fear; dego, degere, degi - to live
2. Some parts are just presumed, that you should (have to) know.
e.g. many of the "-are" verbs are regular, following the pattern of: "laudo, laudare" -> laudavi, laudatus - to praise

"Latin is glorious... if you're smart." - Fr. Foster

First Experience Latin - Fr. Reginald Foster

Answers to First Experience

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